Global TB cases fall for first time

12th October 2011

Figures from the World Health Organization show that the number of people falling ill with tuberculosis has declined for the first time.

The global death toll has also fallen to its lowest level in a decade, with major headway made in China, Brazil, Kenya and Tanzania, however, the WHO remains concerned that a lack of funds threatens progress, especially in relation to multi-drug resistant TB. The number of people who died from tuberculosis peaked at 1.8 million in 2003 but by 2010 this had declined to 1.4 million.